2005 Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon

Jaguar has a new addition to its family for 2005 - and it's the kind of addition that's become a standard in the European luxury ranks. The Sportwagon joins in with the compact wagons from Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and soon, Saab, in a sort of battle of the bands where there are no losers - indeed, there's hardly an also-ran in the group.

The Sportwagon is based on the entry-level X-Type sedan, which came to North America in 2002. Jaguar hoped that today's X-Type buyer would be tomorrow's customer for its other offerings, from the mid-level S-Type to the top-of-the-line XKs and XJs. And though some 100,000 X-Types have been sold in North America, the smallest Jaguar has needed incentives to keep its sales at decent levels. It's not done much to improve the brand image here, but in Europe it's been a bigger success, especially with the diesel versions now plying the streets.

The Sportwagon gives the X-Type some much-needed, mid-lifecycle interest. And the versatility of the wagon body, built around luxury trappings, gives the lineup an appealing entry in the niche dominated by Audi and BMW.

2005 Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon
Price: $36,995
Engine: 3.0-liter V-6, 227 hp
Transmission: Five-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 185.5 x 70.4 x 58.4 in
Wheelbase: 106.7 in
Curb Weight: 3761 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 18 /24 mpg
Safety Equipment: Dual airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, all-wheel drive
Major Standard Equipment: Air conditioning, AM/FM/CD player, power sunroof
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles